From: Julia Elman [j-elman@pacbell.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 11:22 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: FDA regulations on genetically engineered food
4/3/01
Dear FDA Commissioner Henney,
The proposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations fail to require
labels or safety tests on genetically engineered (GE) food. The new rules
continue to deny Americans the right to know what is in our food, while
protecting the economic interests of biotech corporations.
Labeling GE foods would protect the public from potential hazardous health
effects such as food allergies and toxicity that can only be traced if GE
foods can be identified. By refusing to require both labeling and mandatory
pre-market safety testing of foods, the FDA puts consumer's health at risk,
ignores possible environmental hazards, and fails to satisfy the
overwhelming desire of American consumers to exercise freedom of choice in
the marketplace.
As a mother, I urge you to keep all genetically engineered ingredients and
crops off the market unless or until independent safety testing demonstrates
they have no harmful effects on human health or the environment and they are
labeled to ensure consumers right-to-know; and
Julia Elman
200 Roosevelt Terrace
Santa Cruz, CA 95060